BBC’s Ashes plans to be “most ambitious” ever

Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website are set to provide their most comprehensive coverage yet of this winter’s Ashes series in Australia.

The station will for the first time feature live commentary from England’s warm up matches as well as ball-by-ball coverage of the Women’s 2014 Ashes series.

Test Match Special will have ball-by-ball commentary throughout the 25-day winter series, which starts in Brisbane on November 21, with 5 live sports extra providing preview and highlights shows.

TMS stalwarts Jonathan Agnew and Henry Blofeld

The TMS team will be led by Jonathan Agnew and will also include Henry Blofeld, Simon Mann, Jim Maxwell, Ed Smith, Glenn McGrath, Michael Vaughan, Geoff Boycott, Vic Marks and Simon Hughes.

5 live have also commissioned a number of special programmes, including Fighting Talk with Freddie Flintoff and Not Just Cricket with Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann.

There will also be documentaries on England coach Andy Flower among others, while Stuart Broad. Phil Tufnell andMichael Vaughanwill host their weekly cricket show throughout the winter.

The BBC Sport website will also provide live commentary and full coverage as will the BBC Sport app and iPlayer Radio app, while 5 live’s Ashes portal will include Pint Sized Ashes, a 2 minute guide to the latest action, the TMS series with Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott and a new daily preview from Michael Vaughan.

Jonathan Wall, controller of MediaCityUK-based 5 live and 5 live sports extra, said: “We’ve responded to the huge audience appetite for the Ashes in the summer with 5 live’s most ambitious plans ever for an overseas cricket tour.

“With the peerless Jonathan Agnew and co on TMS, 5 live’s Ashes Breakfast, daily podcasts and a special Freddie Flintoff Fighting Talk we think we’ve got something special, not just for England cricket followers, but for millions of sports fans all over the country.”